A very Merry Christmas 2011

May your Christmas dream come true.

May your tummy be full and

May your family enjoy a safe and wonderful true meaning of Christmas.

I just returned from the American Speech/Language Hearing Association National Convention in San Diego. I attended many wonderful sessions on autism/ASD/Aspergers syndrome. I worked in the exhibit hall and enjoyed the city with my husband.

Be sure to catch my Autism Spectrum Blogs on ADVANCE for the Speech Language Pathologist. The ASHA blogs are being posted at least twice a week. Lots of great information and tips for SLPs and parents.

I have also posted three collages On the Road with Humpty Dumpy. Mr. Humpty had so much fun at ASHA and of course, he’s always the center of attention.

The picture at the top is of several of my ASHA name badges. I’ve been attending since the 1980′s.

Thank you Norman Rockwell

A very warm and thankful Thanksgiving from our house to yours.

Don’t forget to give thanks to whom it belongs.

 Good Speech, Inc. is the name of my private speech therapy practice in Las Vegas, NV.

My daughter, coined the phrase, “Speech Pathologists Make Good Things Happen.”

• Speech Pathologists Make Good Things Happen for Children
  By working with them, by caring about them, by constantly learning from them.
• Speech Pathologists Make Good Things Happen for Adults
  By making their lives worth living, by empathizing, by giving your time.
• Speech Pathologists Make Good Things Happen for Families
  By sharing, by listening, by praising, by encouraging, by empowering.
• Speech Pathologists Make Good Things Happen for Other Professionals
  By learning from them, by sharing with them, by teaming with them.
• Speech Pathologists Make Good Things Happen for Their Communities
  By sharing knowledge through speaking, writing, and charity events.
• Speech Pathologists Make Good Things Happen for Themselves
  By sharing knowledge and talents with children, adults, families, professionals and communities.

SLPs receive gifts every day of their lives as they look beyond the bucket that sits at the end of the rainbow. These gifts are heard in a child’s laughter as he/she shares a moment of joy in therapy. These gifts are seen in the tears of gratitude as they slide down a wrinkled face withered by time. These gifts are touched as a parent’s hand reaches out in gratefulness for your time and for going one step beyond the edge of the sidewalk. These gifts are felt in your heart as you walk for autism, light up blue for autism, or support any disability/charity in your community.

We, as speech pathologists, have chosen such an honorable, yet responsible profession.

I just returned last night from ASHA (American Speech Hearing Association) National Convention. There, I caught up with and met so many wonderful SLPs. We connect to make life better for individual people and families. SLPs love what we do and honor those with whom we work.

Yes, I took my Humpty Dumpty and will be doing a blog titled, “Humpty Dumpty Takes ASHA,” on his website at On the Road with Humpty Dumpty.

I attended many sessions on autism across the spectrum and will be blogging at ADVANCE for the Speech-Language Pathologist. Lots of great information and tips will be posted for toddlers to adults.

Life is filled with sequences.

Sequence for you child by naming 1, 2, 3 or

first – middle – last

Our recent trip to Washington D.C. started with a “Welcome to Washington” breakfast in our nation’s capitol. We were greeted in the Lyndon B. Johnson room by Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and several members of his staff. If you are from Nevada, Senator Reid holds a “Welcome to Washington” every Thursday that the Senate is in session. This is followed by a tour of the U.S. Capitol.

Thank you Senator Harry Reid of Nevada

Other state senators/represenatives hold similar greetings.

Go to the name of your senator/represenative and plan ahead.

For more pictures of our “Welcome to Washington” and

our Washington highlights go to

On the Road with Humpty Dumpty.

I would like to announce, my soon to be launched, children’s book

Bayo the Boo Cow

from Ink and Quill Publisher, Henderson, NV

Bayo means to find joy in Nigerian.

Boo ~ Boo ~ Boo, Bayo could not say “Moo.”

Parents and Teachers – you will be thrilled to find a barn load of oral motor exercises at the end of Bayo to practice with your chilren for developmental articulation skills. 

These exercises are written by Kathie Harrington, M.A., CCC, SLP

Kathie has years of experience working with children with speech and language disorders as well as developmental milestones.  Let Kathie and Bayo show you and your child fun and empowering strategies for speech development that can be successful individually or in a classroom environment.

Bayo the Boo Cow will be available shortly.

E-mail me for pre-orders and I’ll give you a “cowabunga” of great deal.

kathieh2@cox.net

Be sure to check out and “Like” me on my new Facebook   page, KATHIE HARRINGTON’S AMAZING AUTISM PAGE.

This is another new way of presenting information and inspiration to the autism/ASD community.

Share with your family and friends.

After all – life is AMAZING!

Dan Wheldon was killed right before our eyes last week, 10-16-11, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS).

My husband, Tim, and I were in the grandstands on that day, at that time.  Tim is an avid race fan and never misses a main even at the LVMS.  We were in the Neon Garage (pits) that day to see the drivers, crews, cars, and awesome events that took place before the race began. 

U.S. Airforce planes zoomed overhead from Nellis AFB as 34 drivers started their engines. Nineteen cars circled five memorial laps to the tunes of Danny Boy and Amazing Grace in honor of Dan Wheldon only two short hours later. The race was not resumed.

The LVMS is offering a full refund on any tickets that were scanned for the race that day. Tim and I decided to take that refund and when we receive it, we will send it to a charity sponsored for the Wheldon children, Sebastian, 2, and Oliver, 8 months. There is also an online sports auction to take place for Dan’s wife Susie, and children.

Wish I could have been part of this awesome 45th class reunion.  I was here in Las Vegas thinking of all of the wonderful memories and my friends. I remember something special about each of your endearing faces. We certainly had it all in Iowa Falls. “This feeling will not end.”